How life has changed in Rushmoor

Rushmoor's population increased by about 2,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rushmoor increased by 3.1%, from almost 91,000 to 93,800.

The addition of just over 2,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rushmoor was home to, on average, 17 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rushmoor

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rushmoor increased by two years, from 34 to 36 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South East and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in Rushmoor are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rushmoor by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rushmoor

In 2011, 10.4% of Rushmoor residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.4% in 2001. The 8.0 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 84.8% of people in Rushmoor said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.6% in 2001. About 2.2% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.6% to 2.0%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Rushmoor increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rushmoor by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Rushmoor

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Rushmoor was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.2 points.

In 2011, 28.4% of respondents in Rushmoor gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Rushmoor, 62.1% said they were Christian, compared with 79.3% in 2001. About 3.7% said they were Hindu, compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

In Rushmoor, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.0% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Rushmoor increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Rushmoor by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rushmoor that rented privately increased from 10.7% to 17.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in six (16.3%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rushmoor households that owned their home decreased from 72.4% to 63.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Rushmoor increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rushmoor, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rushmoor

The percentage of Rushmoor residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 5.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rushmoor residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91.7%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Rushmoor working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.7% to 10.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Rushmoor decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rushmoor, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rushmoor residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.5% in 2001. While the percentage of Rushmoor residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.4% to 10.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rushmoor decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rushmoor, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Rushmoor residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 65.5% in 2001. The percentage of Rushmoor residents that were self-employed increased from 7.2% to 8.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Rushmoor increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Rushmoor, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Rushmoor

The percentage of married people fell in Rushmoor, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Rushmoor, the proportion of married people decreased from 50.8% in 2001 to 49.7% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Rushmoor increased from 31.2% to 33.0%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11.2% to 12.0%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Rushmoor, which comprised a cohabiting couple, remained close to 11.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.6%) households had only one person, compared with 25.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rushmoor which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41.5% to 38.5%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Rushmoor residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Rushmoor remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rushmoor by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Rushmoor with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.7% to 9.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.5%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 33.3% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Rushmoor without children decreased from 57.0% to 56.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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